Tetlys tea and custard creams

Hello all.

A while no blogging, and even longer that I've not been around my little men. I'm still in England, enjoying tea, sliced bread, fish and chips and biscuits. I also went to a gameswork shop yesterday and was horrified to see the new lord of the rings rule book was £50! No thank you, I'm sticking with the old school first edition I got for £2!

Anyway, I've been sans figures but not without my ideas and musings, mostly on Runissia and possible armies for the setting. I might be getting some figures soon-ish, even thought I have loads of perry plastics still. Ah well, that's what it's like to be a wargamer!

As you might know, I'm planning on doing my Runissia in 15mm for a change of scale and also so I can make full scale castles, forts and towns. This is really hard in 28mm for space reasons so I really want to go smaller to go bigger.

So, I've been drawing building plans, taking inspiration from many sources. I bought a book on British castles the other day for 2.99 (instead of 14.99!) and saw Eilean Donan Castle (above, image from Wikipedia). This is the sort of look I want for Runissian castles. Kaliad places might be similar, but more round and smaller.

I could also do this in 6mm, meaning even more space, so it is a possibility and means I could have even more castles for less space. And it's cheaper and easier to hide...

Right, time to go raid some blogs for links!

Going away

Just a quick post to ask if anyone knows of any wargames clubs/shops in the Southampton area. I'm going over there next weekend to see my brother and, although i know that there is a Gameswork Shop there, it doesn't sell historical figures :(

Any help would be appreciated!

Sample is here

Got my sample pack of Legio Heroica in the post today!

I asked for some Feudal and crusaders, and a Swiss pike man to create some Runissians and Kaliads for Norvarje, my fantasy world.

Here they are. I also have three shields and spears for all, but they don't make for good pictures.

I need to clear them of some mold lines and flash, then i can get miliputing. I plan to add boots to some, and convert a spear man to carry a pole arm in both hands. I thought about creating a feudal force for a moment but decided to stay focused, as if i don't make Runissians now i don't think i ever will.

Below is a quite comparison. Legio Herorica in the center, Museum Miniatures on the left and Warrior Miniatures on the right.

I have a plan...

Well, not really, more like some ideas.

Nothing spectacular on the wargames front this week. Being back at lycée, i'm trying to get back into work state of mind. I've also been doing some writing, a story that i might post here as it goes along. Maybe?

I have been thinking a bit about wargames, mainly about an idea i had with a sort of modified Dux Britanniarul rules. I had the idea to create a new fate deck, using nobles' traits to build the hand. Example; a noble is a brave, knightly sort, so in the hand you add Hero of the Age, the one for boosting status (never can remember the name) and one or two of choice from a list. A cunning mercenary leader can have cards that allow him and his troops to move through certain types of terrain, and keep them in line through fear and respect.

I also tried making some new cards for different characters. One is sustained charge, like aggressive charge but over both rounds. Some allow men to move through woods with no penalty, others hills or water (rivers, marshes...), also one where a unit becomes Stubborn and ignores all shock inflicted that turn. Some are also designed for fast, hit and run cavalry, like the Huns.

They're just ideas and thoughts, like lots of things on this blog!

In other news i bought a good magazine with lots on the Hundred Years War (medieval? me? Never...). Plenty of good pictures to look at. I've also been tempted to consider a 15mm army using Legio Herorica figures. They look really nice, and seeing them on a couple of blogs gets the grey cells thinking. Only the pile of Perry Minitaures makes me hesitate; not sure how my parents will react if i order even more figures.

They'll have to wait.

I also made a start on 4 more militia men, but they're not in a state to show yet. Just skin, metal and coats done. Right, time for some tea.

BTW: If any one is interested in some of the card ideas for their Dux adaptions, i can post some up.

Bring on 2013!

I was going to post on the pictures of the first retainers for the Mastons, in their fancy black and green, but i was drafted in to help clear bamboo and by the time we called it a day it was too dark to take photos. So they'll have to wait for next year :)

I have also decided on the forces for the Mastons and the Walkers:

Mastons:

Richard, banner, squire and 3 or 4 mounted retainers.

Sergeant and 11 archers

Sergeant and 9 billmen

Walkers:

Nicolas, banner 1 or 2 squires and 2 men at arms

Sergeant and 11 archers

Sergeant and 11 billmen

Of course, billmen include some men at arms, included in the general mass.

I also have a small band under Woode, a local gentleman:

Woode:

Woode and 5 mounted retainers.

Sergeant and 5 archers (or remove and add 3 mounted men)

Work has begun on the militia, well, a base coat. These will be started shortly, but so does my schoolwork :(

2012 was pretty good for me, seeing my collection start with my Vikings and Saxons, and expanding to a horde of Perrys and buildings! I won't be buying more for some time, except maybe some peasants, animals and wagons. Or a gun...

Next time, there will be pictures!

A bit of blabbering

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas yesterday, with plenty of presents, which may or may not be wargames associated. I got the rest of the Perry miniatures (some of the 102 men mentioned the other day, in my last post), as well as 2 men at arms books, one for the Wars of the Roses (bizarrely) and Scandinavian  Armies 1300-1500. Read a bit, they seem like good books. I do like the men at arms, for they explain things quite simply, and lay good foundations to further, more complete reading later.

From Guerre Miniatures i also got a free tape measure with the shop logo on, and a business card with a little note wishing me a happy Christmas. It was nice to read it, i'm now a regular customer!

Plans for 2013? Nothing special, just continue chipping pleasurably away at the plastic mountain. I have made a start on the Maston's retinue (the mounted commander from the last post). They are in black and green, with their badge a sort of flower or wheat head. It is rather similar to a badge of another lord, but it looks good, so why not!

As for the Walkers, i'm still pondering on colours. Their badge will be a stag's head.

Right, next post will be the current Maston retinue, let's hope it's as sunny tomorrow as it was today (the joys of France, sun on Christmas in the middle of December)!